3:10 to Yuma (1957)

Van Heflin is Dan Evans, a down-on-his-luck rancher who witnesses a stage holdup and killing and does nothing about it. Glenn Ford is Ben Wade, the leader of the outlaw gang that held up the stage and the man who committed the murder.

Dan has been worn down by life and his run of bad luck. Two years of drought has him on the verge of losing his ranch where he lives with his wife and two sons. Wade is cocky and confident, quick to charm the ladies and doubtful that anyone will have the courage to stand up against him.

But he lingers a little too long in Bisbee, partly because of an attraction to a pretty saloon girl (Felicia Farr as Emmy) and winds up being captured by the town marshal while his gang isn’t around.

The owner of the stage line offers $200 to two men willing to escort him to the nearby town of Contention, where Wade can be placed on the 3:10 train to Yuma. Dan jumps at the chance; that’s precisely the amount he needs to buy water rights for his ranch for the next six months, hoping the drought ends by then.

He gets Wade to Contention, all right, with the help of the other volunteer, Alex Potter, the town drunk. But that’s where his luck runs out. While Dan and Wade are holed up in a hotel room waiting for the train to arrive, Ben’s gang arrives. Getting him all the way to Contention might prove easier than getting him the few blocks to the train station.

Review:

Wonderful, taunt little film that has stood the test of time. In fact, when the movie was remade in 2007 with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the Ben Wade and Dan Evans roles, respectively, much of the script was lifted word for word from the original.

Part of the reason for the film’s success lies in its focus on characters rather than shoot-em-up action. Ford made a charming and conniving bad man, but can turn cold-blooded killer at a moment’s notice, and isn’t afraid to train his gun on one of his own men if it’s for the greater good.

Heflin badly wants to make a go of his ranch, badly wants to prove himself to his wife and children. But as Wade offers more and more money if he’ll just do the wrong thing and let him go, he’s clearly tempted by the offers.

The scene at the Evans’ dinner table with Wade as a guest, and the tense march to the train station are especially well done.

Add a great little theme song, and you’ve got perhaps the best Western for both Ford and Heflin.

Directed by:
Delmer Daves

Cast:
Glenn Ford … Ben Wade
Van Heflin … Dan Evans
Felicia Farr … Emmy
Leora Dana … Mrs. Alice Evans
Henry Jones … Alex Potter
Richard Jaeckel … Charlie Prince
Robert Emhardt … Mr. Butterfield
Sheridan Comerate … Bob Moons
George Mitchell … Bartender
Robert Ellenstein … Ernie Collins
Ford Rainey … Bisbee marshal

Runtime: 92 min.

Theme Song: 3:10 to Yuma
Sung by Frankie Laine

Memorable lines:

Alice Evans: “Seems terrible something bad can happen and all anybody can do is stand by and watch.”
Dan Evans: “Lots of things happen where all you can do is stand by and watch.”

Ben Wade: “When the marshal wakes up. you tell him the coach from Contention was robbed. And you tell him the driver was killed.”
Emmy, tending bar: “Killed?”
Wade: “Killed.”
Emmy: “Oh. If there’s a killing, I’m supposed to wake him. It’s only robbery he don’t wanna be wakened for.”

Ben Wade: “I don’t mind a skinny girl just so she has blue eyes to make up for it. You got blue eyes?”
Emmy: “Brown.”
Wade: “That’s alright. They don’t have to be blue.”

Townsman #1 as the sheriff looks for volunteers: “We need to know what we’re getting into.”
Townsman #2: “Might not be safe.”
Sheriff: “Safe. Who knows what’s safe? I know a man dropped dead from lookin’ at his wife. My own grandmother fought the Indians for 60 years, then choked to death on lemon pie.”

Dan Evans to Alice: “I heard Alex scream (before he was hung). The town drunk gave his life because he believed people should be able to live in decency and peace together. Do you think I can do less?”